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Paul Krugman on The Conscience of a Liberal

Economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman says that now is the time for a "new New Deal." In his recent book, The Conscience of a Liberal, Mr. Krugman says that the US has been on a path of growing social, political, and economic inequality. He explains how he thinks Americans can reverse that trend and create change.

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Comments [10]

Hal Rosenbaum
from Fairfield, CT

I totally agree with Paul Krugman that this country needs another New Deal administration. The country is in shambles, and it is heartbreaking. Greorge W. Bush is the worst possible president we could have. Our government agencies have been vitiated, he plundered the Treasury to give our money to his constituency, and restructlulred taxes and employment law so that the average man and woman are defenseless and impoverished. The funds he is spending for a war that will not help and makes things worse must be ended. This is a time when domestic spending is urgently needed. Our electric grid is inadequate and inhibitining growth and dependable delivery of electricity. Our national highway system just a step from paralyzing the country; pssenger railroads have been starved for capital for maintenance and essential growth,he health of our population is rapidly deteriorating,46 million children have no health insurance. New Orleans is still in shambles, and fortells what will happen if a disaster hits any other city while this administration is in power. Are these enough reasons for a strong government with leaders that love the American people more than themselves to replace this little wimp of a president and his incompetent hacks? My list just scratches the surface of what is wrong and needs fixing. Yes, we need a new heal for the American people, and no politician even suggest that idea.

do you think there is something in all this to Ike's warning about the military industrial complex 9he was talking about the war industry) but he was talking to us before the dominance of multinationals -

A new New Deal may not be possible until Americans stop endorsing destructive MNCs and free market capitalism in general. I don't know what will create a seachange in the populace, although I fear the only thing will be some terrible repeat of the Crash of '29.

Not happy with economic hegemony, capitalism has taken on new cultural dimensions, evident in the (supposed) popularity of Ayn Rand's fiction (and how fictional it is!), "business" television, and self-promoting celebrity entertainment. People are so indoctrinated with this advertising piffle, its impossible to believe we can go on as a society with the "third space" for civil discourse (that open area outside the work and home for public gathering which the market cannot and will not provide).

There's so little international news coverage done anymore, Americans have no idea what their empire does and what the costs are to sustain our standard of living here. Of course, there are signs of change, resistance and hope everywhere, you just have to look closely.

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